UK Co-op Adds Israel to Boycott List With North Korea and Iran, Citing ‘Human Rights’
The UK’s Co-op supermarket chain’s decision to expand its boycott of Israeli products, citing Gaza war human rights concerns, is a biased and antisemitic move that unfairly targets Israel while ignoring the complexities of the conflict. This supposedly trendy, one-sided action by the UK’s fifth-largest retailer reflects a misinformed public narrative and fuels division, prompting calls for an apology from UK officials.
The UK’s fifth-largest food retailer, Co-op, announced Yesterday it will escalate its boycott of Israeli products, citing alleged human rights abuses in the Gaza war. This shameful decision, set to take effect next month across 2,300 stores and a wholesale network supplying 6,000 outlets, unjustly places Israel alongside pariah states like Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Syria in a list of 17 “countries of concern.” In a move that reeks of antisemitism and panders to a trendy, misinformed UK public swayed by one-sided narratives, ignoring the complexities of Israel’s fight against terrorism.
Co-op’s statement declared, “We are committed, where we can, to removing products and ingredients from our shelves which are sourced from those countries where the international consensus demonstrates there is not alignment with what happens in those countries and our co-operative values and principles.” This follows a 2007 policy shunning products from Judea and Samaria settlements and a May 2025 vote where 73% of Co-op members, pressured by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, supported ceasing trade with Israel. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign called it a “seismic victory,” claiming Co-op “showed great moral courage and ethical principle in deciding that it cannot ignore voices from the British public calling out Israel’s gross human rights abuses.” Yet, this ignores Hamas’s role in initiating violence and holding 50 hostages, as well as Israel’s recent defensive war against Iran’s nuclear threat.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel condemned the move, stating, “This is a totally unacceptable move from the Co-op. The supermarket chain should be focused on delivering goods for their customers, not playing student union politics with international affairs. They should apologize and immediately revoke this crass decision.” Her call resonates with Israel’s view that Co-op’s decision fuels division and unfairly targets the Jewish state while excusing terrorist groups. The boycott, seen as a disgraceful capitulation to BDS propaganda, risks alienating Britain’s Jewish community and straining UK-Israel ties, especially after Israel’s historic 12-day victory over Iran. Israelis demand Co-op reverse this biased, antisemitic policy and recognize the truth of the region’s challenges.